Jamiedodger's 2010 Journey

JAMIEDODGER

Back from Tesco's. Spent £41.02. Got loads of stuff as I am now buying ingredients as opposed to move convenience stuff. Have £68.03 left until the end of the month. Easy to do I think. Have got so much stuff in.

Made a sponge cake, some biscuits and a crumble this morning. Need to make up some basic fairy cakes as DS3 doesn't like jam in the sponge cakes.

macgirl

Hi Jamie :hello:

Very productive as usual I see :T I'm tempted to make a carrot cake later as we had to buy 6 large carrots for a school science project - just for the tops :cool:
All your baking has inspired me, but it's very dangerous as then I'll have to eat it! Keep going with the budgeting, it's very inspiring

Hope all's well with you x

JAMIEDODGER

Hi Macgirl:) Carrot cake is my favourite! Never made it though, have you got a recipe?

Up early this morning but really tired as I had a late night, sat on the sofa watching two batman films back to back, that'll teach me!

Felt like I spent all day in the kitchen yesterday, which isn't that far from the truth. so won't be making anything today. Have to take DS3 over to his dad's this morning, just me and DD today so we have arranged to meet up with some friends and their kids for lunch. They have a ball park where we are going so plenty for the kids!

Wow, only 9 days left until the end of the month! On target with everything so far, which is fab as I feel more in control than I have in ages! I will be joining the next GC, think I will stick at £300 for september and see if I can reduce it a little each month so that I dont set myself up to fail. I am hoping to have it at £250 per month by december. If this is possible, then that is £50 per month toward the credit card.

I think it is seriously scary how quickly it is to fall back into debt when you are not watching every penny. I am going to be trying really hard to get rid of it asap. :T

hypno06

Only 9 days left til the end of the month - how quickly has this year gone :eek:

I made a few batches of carrot muffins a couple of years ago - don't have the recipe but just googled it and found a nice one - they were excellent because they froze really well so were able to be used for packed lunches without me munching my way through them too much. I just froze them in pairs in sandwich bags, and took out two every so often for pack ups for the kids. I really should do the same ahead of the beginning of term this year.....

Have a good day - sounds like it will be nice and quiet!

JAMIEDODGER

Morning:)

Hypno - I like the freezing cakes idea, I must do this as otherwise the kids (and me) munch away the lot in a very short space of time!

What a grotty day again!! I have my fingers crossed for our London trip on thursday but somehow I think it will be raining!

Have just done banking and updated spreadsheets etc. Still looking good for bank account to be in the black by 1st Sept! I can't wait for this it will be so good to see a positive amount when I log into my account as opposed to a negative one!

Had a nice time with DD yesterday, it was lovely to spend some time with her just on our own. Boys all had a great time at their dads too.

Today DS3 is off to the zoo with the special needs playscheme he goes to. Shame the weather is not good. Will be making his packed lunch in a bit. Will be taking the opportunity to nip to Tesco while he is not around to pick up some more milk as I have nearly run out again!!

DS1 and DD are staying with my sister tonight, will be dropping them off about 4.30pm, they won't be back until tomorrow afternoon so I can spend some quality time with DS2&3 while they are away.

Time to get on, need to wake DS1 up for paper round....

JAMIEDODGER

Back from Tesco, bought milk, huge bag of cat food, marmite, sauagemeat and squash, Spent £10.49. £57.54 left until the end of the month and 8 days to go:) I think I can still manage to do this! Off to update signature.

JAMIEDODGER

Morning all:)

Nipped into town yesterday afternoon to Iceland to get DS3 favourite pizza's. Spent £5. So now £52.54 left in Grocery budget with week to go!! Have enough milk/bread and fresh stuff to last today and tomorrow. They are really getting through it all as it is school holidays! September should certainly see a reduction in spending when they are back to school.

I did a complete revamp of my budget yesterday. Now listed into four categories: Bills, Debt (both of which come straight out of main account) Other and Extras (both which get drawn out in cash)

The 'Other' category covers Food, Petrol and Personal Spends, 'Extra's are things like Hair, Clothes, Presents, Trips and Holidays and anything else that may come up.

I have set an amount for each of the four categories, which is just under my minimum monthly income amount. As my income varies throughout the year depending on 4 or 5 weeks months, there will always be leftover money in the account, some months much more than others. This amount will be used to pay extra off the debt.

If I save money on my grocery shopping and petrol and have money leftover at the end of the month, I am going to buy Tesco stamps, this way I can't spend what I have saved. I am hoping to aim for a free shop in december or at the least a much reduced one, then that months allocated grocery/petrol money can go towards paying my dad back.

If I have money leftover in the extras category this money will get carried over to the following month as there are always things that need buying like kids clothes, new shoes etc, this will eventually be my emergency fund when I have built enough money up in it. Phew!:D

This budget took me ages to do and perfect. I wanted to be realistic, also to take into account all the things I have already planned to do, while paying back my dad and cc and getting back in the black.

For september I am planning on doing the GC, NSD challenge and also 100 days v 1 debt challenge. I am hoping that this will help a lot!

Right finished waffling off to have a browse:)

JAMIEDODGER

Been in the kitchen again this morning. Made a Quiche which we had for lunch (still half leftover), cooked up some Jacket Potatoes which DS1 will have one for dinner, a Sausagemeat and Stuffing Pie which we will have for dinner and some Jam Tarts with the leftover pastry. Will be back in the kitchen tomorrow to make more cakes and biscuits as I have nearly run out of what I made on Saturday!!! Next time I will be making triple batches of fairy cakes and freezing most of them!!

Have updated fridge and freezer lists after making all that stuff this morning, will be going to Tesco tomorrow evening as I am out seeing friends so will pop in there after. I know I will need more eggs and also milk, but I still have over £50 left so not worried. My cupboards/fridge and freezer are heaving with food!!

JAMIEDODGER

Morning:)

Blimey! 25th already! 6 days to go until the end of the month! Checked banking this morning, I am actually in the black today, I have a few bills to go out before the end of the month, but also another payment going in, which will see me switching from black to red up until the 1st September, when I will be back in the black to stay:D Once in the black this will stop the £4 account overdraft charge every month! Not much but £48 per year saved!

Off to London tomorrow, I had a set amount budgeted for lunch and a small spend for each of the kids in the gift shop, but my dad popped over last night and gave me £25 for the children to spend, so I have reduced my budget and saved myself £25:D Just lunch to pay for now! Result!

Baking day today, I only have 6 eggs left, so will use these to make cakes. Will buy some more tonight when I pop to Tesco and maybe have another baking day at the weekend.

Tonight will be use up night again, what is left in the fridge that needs finishing off. I think DS1 will be having Jacket potato again, I swear he could live on these alone:D

DS2 has requested more pasta salad, I may make enough so he can take some in a tub when we go to london. He is not overly keen on McDonalds, he says their food is really salty.

I have a small wash to get on the line this morning and at the moment it is dry so I may be lucky!!

Better get sorted now and get DS1 up for his paper round....

JAMIEDODGER

Morning all!

Popped into Tesco last night and spent £13.35. This included 2 lots of milk, eggs, baked beans, mayo, butter, cheese and a few other bits. Total now spent for the month: £185.81 leaving £39.19:D I am pleased! I will be going to Tesco again on Saturday morning for more milk and anything else I have run out of, but it shouldn't be a lot. We are eating out today as off to London this morning. This will come out of my Trips/Holidays budget and I am also taking drinks and snacks for the kids. Should be a fab day:)